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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Bulua Stoneware Pottery Inc.

The next spot I recommend is actually located in my hometown-BULUA (derived from the word "BULUAK"-to spring out). This is actually the STONEWARE POTTERY INC. located at Zone 8 lower Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. This is actually my first visit last August 20, 2011.

The predecessor of this pottery was actually founded in 1994 by Clemens Wirth (we have almost the same name: "CLEMENT" :)) and Manolo Glema as Glema Stoneware Ceramic Craft Ltd. Co.. In the year 2002, Mr. Manolo decided to set up his own ceramic business and left the company. Now this German-Filipino joint venture is a corporation. Like its German mother company TOPFEREI WIRTH, THE STONEWARE POTTERY, INC. also specializes in high quality stoneware ceramic fired at 1220 C.

The pottery is actually one of the 2 small-scale ceramic factories in the vicinity that uses German Technology (The other one is the Keramos Pottery). The best part of this is that the raw materials are actually clay and glaze which are imported from Germany. This is actually not the typical Bulua clays. And mind you, BULUA is known as the "Clay Country". The stonewares are actually transported and exported to Germany, USA, Japan, and Dubai.

The humble part of the pottery is actually these products are crafted using the bare hands. Imagine, all of its stonewares are handmade. Each of these ceramic stonewares has its own characteristics as they say: "This is the traditional way of making ceramics which gives our products the warm touch of the heart.".

"When they founded Glema Stoneware in 1994, Manolo and Clemens had already known each other for several years, because Clemens had worked as a consultant in a development aid program for Bulua ceramists. When the shop was transformed into a corporation, Clemens and the employees became its stockholders.

Clemens comes to the Philippines several times a year. He is in charge of medium and long-term decisions concerning the further development of the enterprise and the products, and the further training of THE STONEWARE POTTERY employees in all commercial and technical aspects."

Product lines:

"We produce purely handmade stoneware ceramics, thrown on the potter's wheel. Our products include kitchen wares, dinner wares, decorative items and corporate giveaways. We also do custom made items based on the designs of our customers.

The glazes used are developed by master craftsman Clemens Wirth, founder and owner of THE STONEWARE POTTERY, INC. All glazes are food save: free of lead or other ingredients that might affect the health of the user.

Our whole product line is designed for hotel, restaurant and personal use. All items are oven proof, microwavable, as well as dishwasher proof. As all stoneware pottery, also our products cannot be used on an open flame or electric range."

2 comments:

Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn't appear. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!